I know families who earn 30 grand a year with only one worker and get along fine with 2 kids.
It is possible if you want to do it.
Trust me, I understand — my family is one of those that doesn’t rely on credit, etc... It all depends on where you live though. For instance, we moved to Wisconsin for the lower cost of living due to the outrageous housing prices in Denver. I’m just glad we had enough to make the move...
The point I was trying to make still stands, and is valid for MANY of my peers. There is no reason my husband and others in their field should be making LESS now after 15 years of experience as a prototype/precision machinist (with a great work history, etc...) than they made during their apprenticeships. Heck, my husband made less as a supervisor in Denver than he made during his apprenticeship in Chicago, and in Denver it was considered a ‘good’ salary.